By John Pappas
Warpath Confidential Editor
The Washington Redskins have a taken a new approach to free agency. After a decade devoted to buying every big name available, the new front office, led by general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan, have decided to be more methodical in acquiring players in free agency. Through three days of free agency fans have been treated to largely silence, other than the signing of backup offensive lineman Artis Hicks. This is in stark contrast to past seasons when announcements of big signings would occur within hours of the start of the period.
This new philosophy is earning the team praise from fans and pundits. Finally, they say, owner Dan Snyder and the team have learned you cannot buy a Super Bowl, and that a more modest approach is best when building a long-term winner.
Normally, this argument would be one hundred percent correct. This year it could not be more wrong.
This is the first uncapped year in the NFL since 1993. It could not come at a better time for Washington. The Redskins have serious personnel needs; the offensive line is shot, with at least three of five of the starters from last year needing to be replaced because of retirement, release, or lack of ability.
And the starters are just for starters. Washington’s backups would struggle to find work elsewhere. They showed last season they aren’t good enough to compete. The Redskins have to pick up at least two tackles and a guard to start, and probably two backups just to shore up the line. Count Hicks as one of five.
Additionally, the team has needs at running back, linebacker, nose tackle (if they intend to go to the 3-4 front), possibly safety and cornerback.
But for all of these, the Redskins possess only five picks in the NFL draft in April. They cannot hope to find the starters they need relying on the draft alone.
Washington should have entered free agency spending money like oil-rich Sheikhs on vacation. Yet Allen and Shanahan have failed to capitalize on the unique opportunity this year presents. While prudence is the proper course when dealing with the constraints of a limited salary pool; it is folly to be sluggish in the current environment.
An aggressive Washington should have landed Chad Clifton and Tony Pashos. While they were at it, they should have signed Antrel Rolle and Karlos Dansby. How? By throwing more money than the law allows at them. Why should they have done this? Because they would be a better team today if they had. And there would have been no cap penalty associated with signing them all. This year is not about salary value – it’s about talent acquisition.
Given this, there was no excuse in letting guys like Clifton and Pashos walk without deals after the team brought them in. There is likewise no excuse to not aggressively pursue other available players such as Rolle, Dansby, and whomever else they think can help.
Washington needs more than the six players the draft picks and Hicks represent. Especially after releasing 10 players last week, starters and key backups among them. But there appears to be no urgency at Redskins Park.
The Redskins have already missed out on the best talent available this year. And what remains dwindles by the hour. For once Washington could have really helped themselves by being aggressive. But so far they have been content to watch other teams like the Chicago Bears help themselves.
They need to get in the game.
The Redskins picked the wrong time to grow up. After 10 years of impetuousness, it seems they now believe you build a team through the draft and a sprinkle of free agents. Normally this would be true. The problem is they picked the wrong year to come to this conclusion.
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